About Nevada Ballet Theatre

A Journey of over 40 Years
The idea to create a professional ballet and dance company based in Las Vegas was the vision of former
dancers and co-founders Vassili Sulich and Nancy Houssels. Though Las Vegas was a city with a widespread
community of artists, Sulich and Houssels took note that its performers longed to return to their
classical “roots,” where they could dance an eclectic and changing repertoire. In September of
1972, Sulich and his dancers performed their first repertory show in the Judy Bayley Theatre at the
University of Las Vegas, Nevada. The response from the community was overwhelming and so with the vision,
support and financial backing of Houssels, a volunteer board was established with each of its members giving
one thousand dollars to start the state’s first professional ballet company. Nevada Dance Theatre was
born.

In 1996, the organization received a major grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and with a
donation of land from The Howard Hughes Corporation, plans for a world-class home for the troupe began. Now,
indisputably one of the finest dance facilities in the nation, the company’s Summerlin based studio is
home to a full-time professional company of dancers and almost 400 students. In 1997, Nevada Dance Theatre
was renamed Nevada Ballet Theatre to more accurately reflect the company’s classical repertoire at the
time.

Quality Dance Training and Education and Outreach
In 1979, the company established an affiliated Academy in order to provide a premiere dance education to
young people in Southern Nevada and groom the next generation of dance enthusiasts. The Academy is now
regarded as one of the top ballet training centers in the city and offers a variety of classes for children
through adult. In 1980, the company expanded its offerings even further by seeking to expose the art form of
dance to students in underserved populations within Clark County. Today, Future Dance and its
initiatives provide scholarship opportunities to over 400 students a year and the program successfully
reaches over 4,000 students annually. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013, it is one of the longest
running Education and Outreach programs in the state.

Dynamic Repertoire, Unique Collaborations and Dance Education
Over the last several decades, Nevada Ballet Theatre has grown into one of the city’s most beloved
community treasures and one of the states largest and oldest performing arts organizations. Currently under
the direction of Executive Director & CEO Beth Barbre and Artistic Director James Canfield, a versatile
company of professional dancers along with a solid focus on dance education continues to take shape.

With a firm adherence to the classical vocabulary, the company has expanded its repertoire over the last
several years to include works by George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp and increased its national visibility by
presenting cutting-edge contemporary works by choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Thaddeus Davis, Matthew
Neenan and its own James Canfield. From performing at The Kennedy Center as part of its “Arts Across
America” Festival, to its annual A Choreographers’ Showcase, a one-of-a-kind
collaboration with the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil, NBT remains focused on educating audiences through
premiere collaborations and exposure to internationally-recognized guest artists, broadening the local
community’s ties to the national arts scene.

Resident Ballet Company of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
NBT’s long-awaited residency at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts became a reality on May 5,
2012 - a celebration of its official debut on the Reynolds Hall stage as well as the company’s 40th
anniversary.

In December 2012, Nevada Ballet Theatre presented a brand-new and original production of The
Nutcracker, complete with new sets, costumes and full orchestra. The first production of its kind built
for the Reynolds Hall stage, this highly-anticipated production was Artistic Director James Canfield’s
first full-length ballet for the company as well as for Las Vegas audiences.

Celebrating the past with an eye on the future, the company continues to take bold steps forward as it
prepares for its 43rd season of bringing outstanding classical and contemporary works to the Las Vegas
community.